Labeling machine

ABSTRACT

A labeling machine comprising a supply reel and a take up reel. Labels are adhesively secured to a backing strip and the backing strip is wound on the supply reel. The backing strip and labels are moved from the storage reel toward the take up reel and the labels are peeled off of the backing strip and momentarily retained at a first station. An applicator transfers the label from the first station to an adjacent article.

April 24, 1973 J. B. FRENCH ET AL 3,129,362

LABELING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21. 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet l Arran/Yay y Apri!24, 1973 J. B. FRENCH ET AL 3,729,362

LABELING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2l. 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 24, 1973 J,B FRENCH ET A. 3,729,362

LABELING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2l. 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 24, 1973 J.s. FRENCH ETAL 3,729,362

'LABELING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21. 1970 y105 69a' a 115@ g: f/

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,.9 flaee/ fasi/fari) rme/varf United States Patent3,729,362 LABELING MACHINE John B. French, 1442 S. 9th Ave., HaciendaHeights,

Calif. 91745, and Hubert J. Schroeder, 4572 Birchwood Ave., Seal Beach,Calif. 90740 Filed Dec. 21, 1970, Ser. No. 100,283

. Int. Cl. B44c 1/24 U.s. ci. 15s- 542 14 claims ABSTRACT 0F THEDISCLOSURE A Vlabeling machine comprising a supply reel and a take i'Many articles such as containers for products and/or i the applicator mresponse to the occurrence of this condithe products themselves mustbear a label providing pricing information, product identification, etc.The labels are supplied on an elongated backing strip with the labelsbeing adhesively/secured to the backing strip. The labeling function iscarried out by a labeling machine which removes the labels and appliesthem to articles as the articles are conveyed past the labeling machine.

The present invention provides an inexpensive labeling machine which ismore iiexible than prior art units. One t advantage of this machine isthat it can be readily adjusted to accommodate labels and articles 0fdifferent sizes and configurations. In addition, the labeling machinecan apply labels to articles which have irregular or curved surfaceswithout making adjustments in the labeling machine.

The concepts of this invention can be advantageously embodied in alabeling machine which includes a rotatable supply reel adapted to havethe labels and backing strip wound thereon, a rotatable take up reel,and drive means for intermittently moving the backing strip from thesupply reel to the take up reel. A stripper removes the labels from thebacking strip as the backing strip is moved passed the strip-per.

Releasable means retains the removed labels at a predetermined location.Such releasable means advantageously includes a grid against which theremoved label is positioned by the stripper and means for creating aslight'subatmospheric pressure on the opposite side of the grid tothereby releasably retain the label against the grid. The grid need notbe movably mounted and, accordingly, the grid is preferably stationaryrelative to the supporting structure or frame of the machine.

"An applicator is positioned adjacent the grid and is adapted to removethe label from the 'grid and transfer the label to the adjacent article.Another feature of this invention is that the applicator is mounted formovement relative to the supporting structure of the machine to therebyfacilitate use of the labeling machine on labels of different sizes andconfigurations.

The labeling machine can be utilized to apply labels to articles havingan irregular contour. One Way to accomplish this is to provide anapplicator which includes a body member movable from a first positionalong a path toward the article. A plurality of fingers are mounted onthe body member for movement relative to each other and relative to thebody member between extended and retracted positions. Yieldable meansurge the plungers toward the extended position. When movement of one ormore of the plungers is resisted by the article, the yieldable meansyields to allow the bodymember and the un- 3,729,362 Patented Apr. 24,1973 ICC restrained fingers to continue their movement along such pathrelative ot the fingers whose movement is` prevented by the article.

Another Way to apply a label to an irregular surface is to utilize ablast of air at greater than atmospheric pressure. In this form of theinvention, the lingers preferably contain air passages and terminate inports for directing the blast of air against the label. In this form ofthe invention, .the body member and the fingers may be stationary. Thepresent invention also teaches that it is possible to combine theretractable finger concept with the air blast concept to accomplish thelabel applicating function.

The backing strip and the labels are driven intermittently by a motor.This motor can be shut off electrically by a circuit which includes aphotocell which shuts off the motor each time a space between labels isbrought in confronting relationship to the photocell. The applicator,whether of the movable or fixed finger type, is actuated by anelectrical circuit which includes a second photocell. The secondphotocell senses the presence of an article at the proper location toreceive a label and actuates tion.

To prevent starting of the backing strip drive motor during theapplicating operation, the labeling machine preferably includes aproximity switch which opens the motor circuit in response to movementof the applicator to apply the label to the article. The proximityswitch closes the motor control circuit upon completion of the labelapplication function, and the return of the Ibody member and fingers totheir initial position.

It is desirable to provide access to the storage and/or take up reels.For example, the storage reel includes a hub or shaft and at least oneside wall or flange which is removably attached to the hub. Toaccomplish this, the side wall 'has an opening therein for receiving asection of the hub with the opening and such section of the hub being ofslightly different peripheral conguration in cross section. A deformableelement is mounted in a bore of the side wall and projects into theopening. The deformable element is deformed so that it interlocks withsurface irregularities formed in the bore. By relatively rotating theside Wall and the hub through a few degrees, the deformable elementengages the periphery of the hub with sutiicient force so that the forceof friction therebetween lockingly mounts the side wall on the hub. Thisconcept can, of course, be utilized for many different applicationswhere it is desired to releasably mount an outer element on a hub orshaft.

The invention can best be understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying illustrativedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of alabeling machine constructed in accordance with the teachings of thisinvention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the label applicator portionof the labeling machine with parts broken away to show the interior ofthe machine.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view partially in section of oneform of applicator constructed in accordance with the teachings of thisinvention.

FI-G. 3A is a fragmentary top plan View of the applicator means and someof the adjacent structure.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view partially insection showing the stripping of one of the labels from the backingstrip.

lFIG. 5 is a front elevational view similar to FIG. 3 of a secondembodiment of applicator constructed in accordance with the teachings ofthis invention.

FIG. #6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the supply reel.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the central portion ofthe supply reel.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally alongline 8 8 of FIG. 6 with the lock being in the unlocked position.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 with the lock being in the lockedposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a labeling machine11 constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. Thelabeling machine 11 includes a housing 13 suitably rigidly mounted on avertical support 15 as by a connector assembly 17. The housing 13 and/orthe connector assembly 17 and the support 15 constitute tixed supportingstructure for the labeling machine 11.

A supply reel 19 and a take up reel 21 are rotatably mounted on thehousing 13. A backing strip 23 having a plurality of closely spaced,aligned labels 25 adhesively secured thereto is wound on the supply reel19. The backing strip 23 extends from the supply reel 19 over aplurality of idler rollers 27 and a stripper 29 to a drive roller 31. Aclamping roller 33 holds the backing strip 23 against the drive roller31. From the drive roller 31, the backing strip 23 extends to, and iswound on, the take up reel 21.

Although other driving arrangements could be utilized, in the embodimentillustrated the drive roller 31 is driven by a drive motor 35 within thehousing 13. The supply reel 19 is free wheeling and a suitable brake 36stops the supply reel immediately when the motor 35 stops. The take upreel 21 is driven by a motor 36a through a slip clutch 361; so as toalways apply tension to the section of the backing strip 23 between thedrive roller 31 and the take up reel 21. When the motor 35 is operating,the drive roller 31 rotates to pull the backing strip 23 off of thesupply reel 19 to thereby rotate the supply reel. The take up reel 21rotates in accordance with the amount of the backing strip 23 which issupplied thereto. When the motor 35 is deenergized, the brake 36immediately stops the supply reel 19 and the slip clutch 36b beginsslipping to prevent further rotation of the take up reel 21. In thismanner, the backing strip 23 and the labels 25 can be indexed throughthe machine 11.

Articles 37 are moved by a conveyor 39 beneath a selected portion of thelabeling machine 11. Each time an article 37 comes in line with a sensorsuch as a photocell 41, the labeling machine 11 applies one of thelabels 25 to the upper side thereof in a manner described more fullyhereinbelow. The conveyor 37 is preferably motor driven at a ratecompatible with the operating speed of the labeling machine 11. Theconveyor 39 may be driven either intermittently in synchronism with thelabeling ma.- chine 11 or continuously.

The labeling machine 11 also includes an applicator section 43 thedetails of which can best be seen in FIG. 2. 'Ihe applicator section 43includes a housing section 45 rigidly attached to the housing 13 andforming a portion thereof. The bottom wall of the housing section 4S isin the form of a grid 47 having longitudinally extending strips 49(FIGS. 2 and 3A) which define longitudinal slots 51 therebetween.

The stripper 29 is rigidly attached to the housing 13 and extends alongan edge 53 of the housing sections 45 (FIG. 4) with suliicient clearancebeing provided to allow for passage of the backing strip 23 and thelabels 25. The stripper 29 has a smooth curved edge 55 which defines arelatively sharp 180 turn for the backing strip 23. The backing strip issomewhat more exible than the label 2S and can readily make such a sharpturn but the relatively stiff label is peeled from the backing strip asthe portion of the backing strip to which it is secured is strip 23movesthe label 25 to a position on the lower faces of the grid 47immediately adjacent the stripper 29. The label 25 is guided into thegap between the stripper 29 and the edge 53 by a guide 57.

The housing section 45 has a back wall 59 (FIG. 3A) with an opening 61therein. An exhaust fan 63 is driven by a motor 65 to partially evacuatethe enclosure defined by the housing section 45. Substantially the onlyother opening in the housing section 45 is formed by the grid 47 and,accordingly, air ows in through the grid 47 through the housing section45 t-o the fan 63. The slight sub-atmospheric pressure within thehousing section 45 holds the label 25 in position on the lower face ofthe grid 47.

Applicator means A67 (FIG. 3A) is mounted within the housing section 45and functions to remove the labels 25 from the lower face of the grid 47and apply the latter to the article 37 therebelow. The applicator means67 includes a linger or plunger assembly 69 (FIGS. 3 and 3A), a solenoid71 for actuating the plunger assembly 69 and a mounting bracket 73. Themounting bracket 73 includes a horizontal leg 75 and a vertical leg 77with the horizontal leg being mounted by bolts 79 in a pair of spacedparallel slots 81 in a lower wall 83 of the housing Section 45. Thesolenoid 71 is suitably mounted on the vertical leg 77 as by bolts 85and the plunger assembly 69 is also mounted on the vertical leg 77 byconnector members 87.

Although the solenoid 71 can take different forms, in the embodimentillustrated it is -a rotary solenoid. The solenoid 71 includes anactuator arm 89 which is rotated upon energization of the solenoid 71 toactuate the plunger assembly 69.

The details of the plunger assembly 69 can best be viewed with referenceto FIG. 3. The assembly 69 includes an upper mounting plate 91 and alower mounting plate 93 irigidly interconnected by plurality of threadedconnectors 95. A cup-like section 97 is mounted on the upper mountingplate 91 and forms a relatively air-tight chamber 99 therewith. Aplunger 101 is mounted on the upper mounting plate 91 as by a screw 103and projects upwardly through the upper wall of the cup-like section 97.A bearing is mounted on the connector members 87 and the plunger 101projects upwardly therethrough. The bearing 105 is rigidly connected tothe members 87 so that the latter is rigid with the mounting bracket 73.A collar 107 is mounted on the plunger 101 adjacent the upper endthereof, and a coil spring 109 acts between the collar and the bearing105 to normally urge the assembly 69 to the upper position shown in FIG.3.

Pulses of air are supplied to the chamber 99 by a fan 111 through -avalve 113 and a conduit 115. The valve 113 may be opened by the solenoid71 if desired or by another solenoid actuated substantiallysimultaneously with the solenoid 71. The valve 113 is spring loaded sothat it is normally in the closed position.

A cluster of fingers or plungers 117 are mounted in suitably alignedapertures in the plates 91 and 93. Each of the lingers 117 is in theform of a tube and has an air passage 119 extending therethrough fromthe chamber 99 to a port 121 at the lower end thereof. As shown in FIG.2, there are several rows of the fingers 117.

Each of the fingers 117 has a shoulder 123 which bears on the uppersurface of the lower plate 93. Coil springs act between the shoulder andthe lower surface of the upper plate 91 to thereby resiliently urge thefingers 117 downwardly to an extended position as shown in FIG. 3. Eachof the fingers 117 is movable upwardly as viewed in FIG. 3 independentlyof the other fingers against the resilient biasing force of its spring125. With the plunger assembly 69 in the upper position shown in FIG. 3,the tips of the lingers 117 project through the slots 51 of the grid andterminate adjacent the lower face of the grid closely adjacent the label25.

. A proximity switch 127 (FIG. 3A) is mounted on the members 87 closelyadjacent the plunger assembly 69 thereof. The proximity switch 127 isclosed when the plunger assembly 69 is in the upper position shown inFIG. 3 and is open when the plunger assembly 69 is depressed by theactuator arm 89 of the solenoid 71. The proximity switch 127 in theembodiment illustrated is a magnetic switch responsive to the nearnessof the magnetic material of the plunger assembly 69, however, a switchwhich is actua-ted by contact with the plunger assemblycould be used.

In operation of the device, the motor 35 drives the drive roller 31 tothereby move the backing strip 23 with the labels thereon from thesupply reel 19 to the take up reel 21. Movement of the backing strip 23continues in this fashion for a length corresponding approximately tothe length of one of the labels 25 plus the distance between adjacentlabels. At this instant, a photocell 128 (FIG. 1) receives light throughthe translucent or transparent backing strip 23 to thereby deenergizethe motor 35. The label-backing strip laminate is opaque and thereforeno light is received by the photocell 128 when a label confronts thephotocell. The supply reel 19 is then stopped by the brake 36 and theslip clutch 36b becomes operative to prevent further rotation of thetake up reel 21 by the motor 36a. l; During the movement of the backingstrip 23 from the supply reel 19 to the takeup reel 21, one label 25 isurged between the guide 57 and the stripper 29 (FIG. 4) and the relativerigidity of the label 2-5 tends to cause the latter to continue movingto the left as viewed in FIG. 4 while the relatively exible backingstrip 23 readily rounds the edge 55 of the stripper 29. The result isthat the label 25 is deposited on the lower face of the grid 47 and thesubatmospheric pressure created by the continuous operation of the fan63 (FIG. 3A) is suicient to retain the label- 25 on thel lower face ofthe grid 47.

If one of the articles 37 is beneath the label 25, its presence issensed by the photocell 41 (FIG. l), and this causes, throughappropriate circuitry (not shown), the energization of the solenoid 71.When the solenoid 71 is energized, the actuator arm 89 is forceddownwardly thereby to thereby depress the plunger 101 against thebiasing force of the spring 109. The plunger 101 and the entire plungerassembly 69 then move downwardly with the bearing 105 remainingstationary. This causes the lower ends of the fingers 117 to engage thelabel 25 and to force the latter rapidly downwardly against the uppersurface of the article 37. The springs 125 permit each of the tubes 117to retract as necessary depending upon the-configuration of the article37 to thereby prevent damage to the plunger assembly 69. As each of thetubes 117 is retractable independently of the others, the label 25 canbe applied to a surface of irregular contour. The lower face of thelabel 25 has an adhesive which adheres the label to the upper surface ofthe article 37.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the supply of air to the chamber 99is optional as the mechanical movement of the fingers 119 is fullycapable of transferring the label 25 from the lower face of the grid 47to the article 37- and applying the label thereto. An air blast from theconduit 115 may be used in conjunction with the mechanical movement ofthe fingers 117 or in lieu thereof. For example, the valve 113 may beopened by the solenoid 71 or by another solenoid which is energized fora predeterminedperiod in response to the cell 41 providing an indicationof the presence of one of the articles 37 beneath the label 25. Whenthis occurs, the valve 113 is opened to permit airow into the chamber 99and through the air passages 119 vof the ngers 117 to thereby assist inapplying the label 25 to the article 37.

The solenoid 71 is energized by a pulse of current in response to thepresence of one of the articles 37 beneath the label 25 on the grid 47.The pulse is of predetermined duration and upon termination of thepulse, the spring 109 returns the plunger assembly 69 to the positionshown in FIG. 3.

When the plunger assembly 69 was in the applying or lower position inwhich it was applying the label 25 to the article 37, it was removed asuicient distance from the proximity switch 127 to cause the latter toopen. The proximity switch 127 is suitably connected into the circuitfor the motor 35 so that the motor 35 cannot be energized with theswitch 127 open. However, when the plunger assembly 69 returns to thenonapplying or upper position shown in FIG. 3, the proximity switchautomatically closes to thereby energize the motor 35 to cause the abovedescribed cycle to be repeated.

The position of the solenoid 71 and the plunger assembly 69 can beadjusted relative to the grid 47 to accommodate different size labelsand articles of different sizes by loosening of the bolts 79 andmovement of the mounting bracket in the slots 81 as shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 5 shows an alternate plunger assembly 69a which is identical to theplunger assembly 69 in all respects not specifically shown or describedherein. Portions of FIG. 5 corresponding to portions of FIG. 3 aredesignated by corresponding reference characters followed by the lettera.

The functional difference between the plunger assemblies 69 and 69a isthat the latter is stationary and the label applying function isaccomplished entirely by a blast of air. The connector member `87amounts the plunger assembly 69a to the mounting bracket 73 as shown inFIG. 3a so that the plunger assembly 69a can be moved for adjustmentpurposes as described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 3a.

As the plunger assembly 69a is stationary, the plunger 101 and the meansfor mounting the fingers for movement relative to each other and to theplates 91 and 93 is eliminated in the embodiment of FIG. 5.Specifically, each of the fingers 117a has an air passage 119a and isrigidly mounted on the plate 91a with the passages cornmunicating with achamber 99a. The chamber 99a is supplied with the pulses of air underpressure by a fan 111a through a valve 113a and a conduit 11511substantially as described with reference to FIG. 3. Accordingly, when alabel 25a is positioned on the grid 47a and an article 37a is positionedtherebelow, the photocell 41 (FIG. 1) causes opening of the normallyclosed valve 113a to permit the fan 111a to supply a pulse of air underpressure to the chamber 99a. The air flows from the chamber 99a throughthe air passages 11911 and out ports 12111 to blow the label 25a fromthe lower face of the grid 47a and apply the latter to the upper surfaceof the article 37a.

FIGS. 6-9 show a lock which is particularly adapted for use with eitherof the reels 19 or 21. As shown in FIG. 6, the reel 19 includes a hub orshaft 129 and side walls 131 and 133. The hub 129 is suitably mountedfor rotation by a bearing 134. The side wall 131 is rigidly affixed tothe shaft 129. The side wall 131 has a collar 135 rigidly aflixedthereto and forming a part thereof. The collar 135 and the side wall 133have an opening 137 extending therethrough for receiving the outer endof the shaft 129. As shown in FIG. 8, the configuration of the opening137 and the periphery of the shaft 129 in cross section are slightlydifferent. Specifically, in the embodiment illustrated, the opening 137is circular in cross section and the portion of the shaft 129 receivedby the opening 137 forms an eccentric. A major region 139 Of the shaft129 which is received in the opening 137 may be of circular crosssection while another region 141 may be of circular cross section of adifferent radius or be of silightly noncircular coniiguration. Thisforms a crescent shaped gap 143 between the shaft 129 and the collar135.

The collar 135 has a generally radially extending bore 145 therein withthe bore having internal screw threads 147. A screw.149 is received inthe outer portion of the radial bore 145 and a plug 151 of deformablematerial 7 such as nylon is received in the inner portion of the bore.The plug 151 is deformed into the thread 147 to thereby firmly retainthe plug 151 in the bore. The plug 151 projects radially into theopening 135.

With the shaft 129 and the hub 135 being in the relative position shownin FIG. 8, the engagement between the plug 151 and the shaft 129 islight. However, by relatively rotating these members to the positionshown in FIG. 9, the plug 151 tightly engages the shaft 129 t0 therebyform a frictional lock which resists further relative rotation betweenthe shaft and the collar. When the deformable plug 151 becomes worn, thescrew 149 can be tightened down further to thereby force or extrude anadditional amount of the plug 151 radially inwardly to thereby insure atight friction lock.

To load a reel of the backing strip 23 on the shaft 129, the collar 135is rotated counterclockwise t0 the releasing position shown in FIG. 8.This permits withdrawal of the side wall 133 from the shaft 129 tothereby permit the backing strip 23 to be positioned on the shaft. Theside wall 133 is then repositioned on the shaft 129, and the side wall133 is rotated clockwise to the locking position shown in FIG. 9.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made byone having ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing fromthe spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. A labeling machine for applying labels to articles wherein the labelsare supplied on a backing strip and said articles are moved through afirst location, said machine comprising:

a supporting structure;

a supply reel mounted for rotation on the supporting structure andadapted to have the backing strip wound thereon;

a take up reel mounted for rotation on the supporting structure, saidbacking strip adapted to extend from the supply reel to the take up reeland to be wound on the take up reel;

drive means for moving the backing strip from the supply reel to thetake up reel;

a grid mounted on the supporting structure;

stripper means mounted on said supporting structure adjacent the gridfor removing the labels from the backing strip as the backing strip ismoved past the stripper means and transferring the labels to said grid;

vacuum means for releasably retaining the removed labels against thegrid;

label applicator means responsive to the presence of an article at saidfirst location for applying a force to the label to remove the labelfrom the grid and transferring the label to the article at said firstlocation, said label applicator means including a member for applyingsaid force to the label;

means for mounting said member on the supporting structure to allowmovement of the member relative to the grid to change the location atwhich the force is applied to the label; and

means for fixing the position of said member at any one of a pluralityof positions relative to the grid.

2. A machine as ldefined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said reelsincludes a hub and a side wall, said side wall having an opening thereinreceiving a section of said hub, said opening and said section of saidhub being of slightly different cross sectional configuration, said sidewall carrying a deformable member which projects into said opening andslidably engages said section of said hub whereby the side Wall can bereleasably locked to said section of said hub by rotating the side Wallrelative to the hub.

3. A labeling machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said member includesmeans defining an air chamber having a plurality of ports for directinga blast of air through said grid to remove the label from the grid, saidmounting means mounting said chamber and ports for movement togetherrelative to said grid to thereby adjust the location on the grid throughwhich the blast of air comes.

4. A labeling machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said labelapplicator means includes a plurality of plungers and a solenoid foroperating said plungers, said mounting means allowing said solenoid tobe moved with said plungers relative to said grid.

5. A machine as defined in claim 3 wherein the label applicator meansincludes a body member, means for mounting the body member for movementfrom a first position along a path toward said first location, aplurality of ngers mounted on the body member for movement relative toeach other and relative to the body member between extended andretracted positions, yieldable means for urging the fingers toward theextended position, movement of said fingers with said body member alongsaid path causing said fingers to engage the label on the grid andtransfer the label to the article at said first location.

6. A labeling machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said grid includes aplurality of spaced strips defining slots, said member includes aplurality of tubes attached to and depending from said means definingthe air chamber, said tubes extending into said slots and defining saidports, said mounting means allowing the tubes to be moved in a directionparallel to said slots.

7. A labeling machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said mounting meansincludes a mounting bracket attached to the means defining the airchamber, a slot in said supporting structure, and releasable threadedmeans for attaching the mounting bracket to the supporting structure.

8. A labeling machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said grid includes aplurality of spaced strips defining slots, said member means includes aplurality of tubes attached to and depending from said means definingthe air chamber, said tubes extending into said slots and defining saidports, said mounting means allowing the tubes to be moved in a directionparallel to said slots.

9. A machine for transferring a label to an article wherein the articleis positionable at a first location, said machine comprising:

a body member;

means for mounting said body member for movement from a first positionalong a path toward said first` location to a second position;

a plurality of plungers;

means for mounting said plungers on said body member for movementrelative to said body member and relative to each other between andextended position and a retracted position;

yieldable' means for urging said plungers toward said extended position,said yieldable means being yieldable to allow said plungers to moveindividually toward said retracted position in response to a forceresisting movement thereof;

releasable means for retaining a label at a second location along saidpath whereby movement of the body member along said path from said firstposition toward said rst location causes said plungers to remove saidlabel from said releasable means and to transfer the label to thearticle, said yieldable means yielding when further movement of aplunger along said path is resisted by the article; and

means for supplying labels to said releasable means.

10. A machine as defined in claim 9 wherein at least one of saidplungers has an air passage therein and including means for supplyingair under pressure to said air passage to assist in transferring thelabel from said releasable means to the article.

11. A machine as defined in claim 9 including switch means responsive tosaid body member being in said second position to prevent the supply ofa second label to. said, releasable means.

12. A machine as dened in claim 9 including means for mounting said bodymember for movement along a second path extending in a directiongenerally transverse to said first mentioned path and means for fixingthe body member at any one of a plurality of positions.

13. A machine as dened in claim 9 wherein said releasable means includesa grid and means for producing a partial vacuum to thereby releasablyretain the label on the grid, said grid having openings through whichthe plungers can extend at least when the body member is in the secondposition.

14. A machine as defined in claim 13 including means for mounting saidbody member for movement along a second path in a direction generallytransverse to said rst mentioned path, said openings in said grid beingelongated and extending -generally parallel to said second path.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 ALFRED L. LEAVI'IT, PrimaryExaminer C. WESTON, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

